YHS dominates NSL track competition

By Mike Hackworth

(Updated: Wednesday, May 07, 2008, 6:21 PM)

The Yosemite High School track and field teams put an exclamation point on the North Sequoia League season by taking first place in the league championship meet Friday in Badgers Stadium. The boys team scored 140 points, winning by 72 points over second-place Washington Union. The Yosemite girls team won convincingly, finishing with 111 points, 13 ahead of second-place Madera South's 98.

"This team worked hard all season," said assistant track coach Ron Cox. "The secret is to continually improve, and they peaked at just the right time."

But the buzz at the meet centered on the Yosemite girls 4x400 relay team, which pulled off an upset over mountain rival Sierra.

"I was down the field watching the last 40 yards of the race," assistant track coach Ellen Peterson said. "The Sierra girl was probably 20 feet ahead of Yosemite's Julianne Warmerdam, but with yards to go, the leader cramped up and Julianne passed her at the end."

Another athlete with a big day was the Lady Badgers' Valerie Gee, who broke the school record in the discus.

"I just felt good," Gee said. "On my fourth throw I did everything right and got a good one off."

Gee's 103-feet-6-inch throw was more than 6 feet longer than her season best (97 feet).

"Valerie was more excited than I have ever seen her," YHS head track coach Walker Vaughn said.

Sophomore phenom Detri Dunn had first-place finishes in the 200- and 400-meter races, a first in the 300 intermediate hurdles and a second in the 110 high hurdles.

Senior Warmerdam ran in all three distance races, the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters, as well as the 4x400 relay race, and took first in each race.

"They (the team) all had great days and I am very proud of each and every one," Vaughn said. "We truly are a very gifted team."